Disney Publishing Worldwide Grows U.S. Magazine Publishing Business

(BUSINESS WIRE/ME NewsWire)– Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) will extend its U.S. magazine business – currently targeted to moms with the monthly Disney FamilyFun – with new magazines aimed at kids. The first magazine in the program, Phineas and Ferb, will be a bi-monthly magazine available at retail outlets and by subscription. DPW will follow the launch of Phineas and Ferb with three special interest publications, all featuring content inspired by Marvel and Disney-Pixar feature film releases.

This April will see the release of Thor, followed later in 2011 with the launch of Cars 2 and Captain America. Each will be stand-alone publications available at retail for $9.99. Carsmagazine, a subscription-based monthly, will launch this fall and will feature favorite characters including Lightning McQueen and Mater as well as new characters from the upcoming Cars 2 feature film.

“We saw with last year’s publication of our Toy Story 3 and Phineas and Ferb special interest publications that there is certainly a demand in the market for high quality kids’ magazines,” says Aparna Pande, vice president & general manager, U.S. Magazines, DPW. “It’s a natural extension of our existing business—we have the content along with the consumer marketing and distribution expertise, and it allows Disney Publishing to continue delivering great publications that get kids reading wherever and whenever they want.” Phineas and Ferb is currently ranked as the #1 animated television show among tweens ages 9 – 14 nationwide.

Each 52-page issue of Phineas and Ferb magazine offers fans activities including comics, games, cutouts, quizzes, and posters—starring Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Perry the Platypus, and other famous characters from the hit Disney XD series. Fans can subscribe online by visiting http://www.disneymagazines.com/phineasandferb. The magazine is available on newsstands for $4.99 and for an annual subscription rate of $23.95.

About U.S. Magazines, DPW Disney Publishing’s U.S.-based magazine group is a leader in delivering fun and engaging content to children and their families through subscription magazines and special interest publications. The vertical business publishes content inspired by Disney-Pixar and Marvel franchises, including Toy Story 3 and Phineas and Ferb. Their leading parenting magazine, Disney FamilyFun , targets families with children under 12, has a rate base of 2.1 million and a total audience of 5.5 million (Source: 2010 Fall MRI).

Delivering real ideas for – and from – real families, it included lively and informative content focusing on making the most of family time together through cooking, crafts, celebrations, volunteering, travel, and other family activities. The Disney FamilyFun extensions include FamilyFun.com, special interest publications, digital magazines, and mobile apps. About Disney Publishing Worldwide Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, with over 250 million children’s books and over 400 million children’s magazines sold each year. Disney Publishing Worldwide consists of vertically integrated publishing imprints including Disney Book Group in the U.S., Disney Libri in Italy and Disney Libros in Spain as well as an extensive worldwide licensing structure. DPW also publishes a range of children’s magazines globally including Topolino, Le Journal de Mickey and Donald Duck as well as family titles in the U.S. which include Disney FamilyFun.

Disney English is DPW’s English language learning business, including Disney English schools in China and a worldwide retail licensing program. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Disney Publishing Worldwide publishes books and magazines in 85 languages in 75 countries.